Process of and apparatus for making caustic alkalies



.No. 623,693. Patented Apr. 25, I899.

' c. E. ACKER.

PRDGESS 0F ANDAPPARATUS FOR MAKING GAUSTIC ALKALIES. (Application med July 5, 1898.) '(No Model.)

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NITED CHARLES ERNEST AOKER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEWV JERSEY.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CAUSTIC ALKALIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 623,693, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed Jul 5, 1898. Serial No. 685,224. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that LOHARLEs ERNEST AOKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, Essex county, State of New Jersey,

have invented a new and useful Improvement tain a pure and concentrated product without the necessity of evaporating a solution containing it and without confining under considerable pressure the hydrogen evolved, and, additionally, to secure the resulting lead in a clean solid metallic state, free from the alkaline metal and ready for subsequent use in the manufacture of new alloy without appreciable loss in remelting.

The essential features of the method as carried out by me consist in the treatment of the alloy containing the alkaline metal while molten within specially-designed apparatus by steam in direct contact with the molten alloy, in effecting the removal of the resulting hydrate from the point where it is formed, and in precluding it from subsequent contact with the steam, thereby preventing it from taking up or absorbing more than a trace or a very small percentage of moisture, and in removing the hydrate as it is formed, in order to enable the steam to act upon the exposed alloy. Thus rapid decomposition of the steam will occur, with the consequent rapid removal of the alkaline metal from the alloy and rapid formation of alkaline-metal hydrate. The hydrogen formed is caused to escape from the apparatus without danger and without permitting ingress of atmospheric air.

Apparatus suitable for use in carrying out this process is shown in vertical section in the accompanying drawing.

The principal vessel 0 is shown as consisting of a cylindrical pot or caldron, of castiron, having a deep lute or annular recess formed by double outside walls and mounted in suitable manner in a coal or gas furnace whereby its contents may be made molten. Suitable pipes for withdrawing its contents are shown at L, M, and N. A bell G, which may be made of cast-iron, extends downward into the pot C and is supported with 'its lower edge at the desired distance from the bottom of the pot by the pipe E, upon which may be mounted a hood F, the sides of which extend downward into the lute. Resting on top of the pot C and secured thereto is a shield D, open in the center except for two or more strong ribs 0 and a hub P, here shown as engaging and supporting the pipe E, with its attached castings G and F. A steam-pipe I, provided with gage J and regulating-valve K, is connected with thepipe E above the shield, and a cap I-I serves to close the said pipe E when desired.

Preparatory to using the converter shown in the drawing it should be heated sufficiently high to melt lead, and this temperature should thenceforth be maintained. A quantity of some material-as, for example, alkaline hydratewhich is easily molten at this temperature is then run into the lute until it rises abovethe lower edge of the hood sufficiently high to form an effective seal.

The correct quantity of alkali-metal alloy will be introduced, preferably in molten condition, through the pipe E, the alloy rising inside and outside of the bell G. I After the pipe is closed by the cap H steam in small quantity is turned on by slightly openingv the valve K. The immediate effect of this will be to depress the alloy in the pipe and bell.

Steam will be decomposed, hydrogen liberated, and alkaline hydrate formed. The level of the alloy will be depressed to the lower edge a of the bell, as shown, where both the hydrogen gas and the molten alkaline hydrate Will escape by rising through the alloy outside of the bell, where the alkaline hydrate remains. It is necessary to exclude atmospheric air from contact with the alkaline hydrate thus rest-ing on the outer surface of the alloy, for the reason that if present oxygen would be absorbed by the hydrate, which would then act as a carrier thereof from the air to the alloy, in which case both the lead and the alkali metal would be oxidized and impurities introduced into the hydrate. The hydrogen gas, which accumulates very rapidly, must be permitted to escape with great freedom to the exterior. This double object is attained by the employment of a liquid seal in the lute, as described. The accumulation of hydrogen gas outside of the bellimmediately depresses the molten caustic alkali on the inside of the seal in the lute until it reaches the bottom edge of the seal,when the hydrogen will escape by bubbling up through the fluid material. The operation having thus been fairly started the valve K will be still further opened to admit steam at the working rate.

The capacity of the converter for rapid extraction of the alkali metal from a given quantity of the alloy is largely determined by the area of the alloy surface a and the area of the outer channel of the lute through which the hydrogen escapes. In order that the steam may act directly on the alloy, it is necessary that as its bulk diminishes and until it finally becomes pure lead the mouth of the bell should always be sealed by the metal. An appropriate charge of alloy therefore is such that the resulting lead will seal the bell. When a sample of the contents of the lower part of the converter, secured through the pipe N, shows that the lead is soft, the operation will be finished, and the products are run off through the pipe N.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The process of making caustic alkali which consists in submitting a fused alloy containing an alkali metal to the direct action of steam from below the surface, whereby the steam is decomposed and hydrogen gas and an alkaline hydrate are formed; and in immediately removing the hydrate thus formed whereby the steam is again permitted to come into direct contact with the alloy.

2. The herein-described process which 0011- sists essentially in treating molten alloys of the alkali metals by the direct application of steam from below the surface and in such manner as to directly produce the alkalimetal hydrate; andin the immediate removal of the hydrate from direct contact with the steam.

3. The process of making caustic alkali consisting in continuously submitting a fused alloy containing an alkali metal to the direct action of steam applied below the surface of the fused alloy, thus forming hydrogen gas and an alkaline hydrate, and in continuously removing the hydrate thus formed.

4;. In a converter for use in making caustic alkali, the combination, of a pot or receptacle, an outlet in the lower part of said pot or receptacle, a furnace in which said pot or receptacle is mounted, a bell extending down into said pot or receptacle, an annular recess on the exterior of said pot or receptacle, a hood extending into said lute and a pipe extending through said hood and communicating with said bell, substantially as specified.

5. In a converter, for use in making caustic alkali, the combination with a pot or receptacle adapted to contain a fluid material, of a bell extending down into the same to a point below the level of the fluid material, means for supplying steam to said bell, and a liquidsealed joint through which may escape hydrogen resulting from the decomposition of steam without permitting ingress of air to the said fluid material.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ERNEST ACKER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. LUNDELIUS, FRANK D. CLARK. 

